This theological study examines how Pope Francis lives out mercy in his own Petrine ministry and calls for it to be lived out by the people of God.

The centerpiece of Pope Francis's pontificate from the very first days has been his proclamation of the importance of the mercy of God. While facing global problems of climate change, terror, political destabilization, refugees, and dire poverty, the Holy Father has articulated the mission of the Church through mercy, love, and forgiveness to reveal the compassion of God for all and particularly for those most vulnerable existing on the margins of society. In this compelling study, Gill Goulding, CJ, examines for the first time the critical and determinative role of mercy in Francis's papacy using his homilies, allocutions, encyclicals, and addresses as primary sources. Goulding traces the theme of mercy in Francis's thought, attending to its Ignatian foundations and its Christological, Trinitarian, and ecclesiological significance for the Church today, particularly the impact of his reappropriation and elevation of the discourse of mercy on the work of the Curia in Rome.

Goulding enters into dialogue with other theologians, including Romano Guardini, Walter Kasper, and Hans Urs von Balthasar, to demonstrate a continuity between Francis and his predecessors, especially Benedict XVI, in this area of mercy. In addition, Goulding argues that the influence of St. Ignatius Loyola, in particular his Spiritual Exercises, needs to be taken into account, paying special attention to Francis's call for the practice of discernment. Throughout Pope Francis and Mercy, Goulding lays the groundwork for future research and suggests a wider appreciation of the necessary tools to enable an engagement with mercy in our contemporary world.

About the Author

Gill K. Goulding, CJ, is professor of systematic theology at Regis College, University of Toronto, and senior research associate at the Von Hugel Institute, University of Cambridge. She is the author of A Church of Passion and Hope: The Formation of an Ecclesial Disposition from Ignatius Loyola to Pope Francis and the New Evangelization.

Reviews

"There have been some fine biographies and related studies where the authors have attempted to tease out Pope Francis's complex character, personal history, influences, and teaching. . . . Goulding's book could be said to begin where these other studies end. As a theologian she understands and is comfortable with the term 'mercy' in a way that these other authors sometimes are not." -Brian O'Leary, SJ, author of To Love and to Serve

"Goulding delivers a thorough, concisely-argued elucidation of the theological concept of mercy under Francis." -Heythrop Journal

"[This book] challenges readers to conform to God's merciful heart in order to discover life's meaning and purpose and to embody the Trinitarian kenosis love. This transformative journey involves becoming faithful witnesses to God's unchanging love and practicing merciful love in a world marked by increasing division along political, theological, and economic lines. Following Pope Francis's example, embracing a merciful, loving life begins with discernment." -Homiletic & Pastoral Review

Awards
Winner of Catholic Media Association Book Award: Pope Francis, Second Place 2024 (United States).



Book Information
ISBN 9780268206451
Author Gill K. Goulding, CJ
Format Paperback
Page Count 264
Imprint University of Notre Dame Press
Publisher University of Notre Dame Press